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Winchester, what happened to the company?

owen219owen219 Member Posts: 3,799
edited October 2007 in Ask the Experts
Please forgive the stupid question but I have to ask. What happened to the Winchester Company? Did it go bankrupt, get run out of business from competitors, stop making guns, or are they active just in ammunition? Where are they located now? Thanks for any information. I know everyone knows but me. owen219

Comments

  • fideaufideau Member Posts: 11,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Olin Corp owns the Winchester name. It was sold to a Belgian co. years ago (Herstal-FN Browning) and they made Winchester guns under the name of US Repeating Arms. Olin retains the ammo manufacturing in the US, but USRA has closed the New Haven, Conn. plant where the Model 94 has been made for the last hundred years or so, thus ending the 94 production. This was in 2006. Some Winchester firearms are still being made in Belgium and other places I think, shotguns and rifles, but not the model 94. Some people have tried to buy the old plant and continue to make the lever guns, but the last I heard they were not successful. Of course the immediate reaction was that any model 94 you could have bought a year ago for $150-200 is now $500 + usually. You can probably find out more than I know just surfing the web but thats the gist of it. Look for 94s for sale on GB and you will be amazed at the prices they are bringing.
  • owen219owen219 Member Posts: 3,799
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fideau
    The Olin Corp owns the Winchester name. It was sold to a Belgian co. years ago (Herstal-FN Browning) and they made Winchester guns under the name of US Repeating Arms. Olin retains the ammo manufacturing in the US, but USRA has closed the New Haven, Conn. plant where the Model 94 has been made for the last hundred years or so, thus ending the 94 production. This was in 2006. Some Winchester firearms are still being made in Belgium and other places I think, shotguns and rifles, but not the model 94. Some people have tried to buy the old plant and continue to make the lever guns, but the last I heard they were not successful. Of course the immediate reaction was that any model 94 you could have bought a year ago for $150-200 is now $500 + usually. You can probably find out more than I know just surfing the web but thats the gist of it. Look for 94s for sale on GB and you will be amazed at the prices they are bringing.

    Thanks,I don't feel so ignorant now. I hate to see a legend split up like this. I feel like part of my heritage is injured somehow. Thanks again, owen219[B)]
  • jtmarine0831jtmarine0831 Member Posts: 908 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It was a Sad day when they closed the New Haven plant! So let's put it this way, if you have a Mod. 94, a Mod. 70, or 1200 or 1300 shotgun, hold on to them cause they don't make them anymore. Well, FN is producing the Mod. 70 under their name now but they're taylored more towards tactical rifle people( SWAT, police, security teams) and come with a hefty price tag.
  • non mortuusnon mortuus Member Posts: 649 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not to go too far off topic, but is 'olin corp' the same company that owns the remington name?? If so what other brands do they have?
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Remington is now owned by Cerberus Capital Managment, as are Chrysler, Jeep, Bushmaster, and Cobb Rifles.

    In my early days as a shooter Remington was owned by DuPont and Winchester by Olin-Matheson. They have always been competitors no matter how the stock got shuffled around.

    Rumor has it that FN will bring back "Winchester" Model 70 sporting rifles next year after a two year layoff agreed on to let distributors profit off the last New Haven guns.
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Browning now owns the rights to produce "Winchester" trademarked firearms, and plans to have the guns built in Japan. Browning is owned by FN Herstal.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    key to winchster has now become the 'new haven' factor. genuine guns will say 'made in new haven conn', my home town.[^]
    Retired Naval Aviation
    Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
    Former NSSA All American
    Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
    MO, CT, VA.
  • RCrosbyRCrosby Member Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bobski,
    Are you still in southern CT? I grew up in Milford, and during WW-II my dad worked in the ballistics lab at Winchester. More than a few interesting stories and guns to come out of those days. Sadly, more stories than guns remain.
  • MichibayMichibay Member Posts: 816 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It is very interesting that CERBERUS has been buying MANUFACTURING PLANTS and some already making arms like Remington and others. What do they know that we don't? Could a major war be in the offering???
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    owen219,

    If you want to buy a Winchester Model 70, you need to look at the FN Patrol Bolt Rifle (PBR) which uses the M70 action. FN bought a two year supply of actions from Winchester before Winchester closed the New Haven plant.

    http://www.fnhusa.com/products/firearms/group.asp?gid=FNG004&cid=FNC01

    This is from the official Winchester website:

    "A Quick Update on Winchester Rifles and Shotguns.

    There have been many questions over the past several weeks about the future and status of Winchester brand rifles and shotguns. We hope that the questions and answers below will help clear up any misconceptions and assure you that we are aggressively moving forward in providing a line of rifles and shotguns with the quality, durability and good design you expect from the greatest firearms brand of all time.

    Q. I heard that your company is closing down the Winchester firearms factory in Connecticut. Is this true?
    A. Yes, this is true. On January 17 of 2006 it was announced that U.S. Repeating Arms Company (the company that makes Winchester brand Model 94s, Model 70s and the Model 1300 Speed Pump Shotgun) would be shutting down one of the factories which makes Winchester guns. The factory is located in New Haven, Connecticut.


    Q. Why is the plant being closed?
    A. Over the years, many efforts were made to improve profitability at the manufacturing facility in New Haven, and the decision to shut this factory was made after exhausting all available options.


    Q. Are there other factories making Winchester products?
    A. Yes. Our other factories will continue production uninterrupted. Products made at these factories include the Super X line of shotguns including the new Super X3 autoloader and the new Super X Rifle (SXR) centerfire autoloader. Both are made in Belgium and assembled in Portugal. In addition, we will continue with our line of quality Select over and unders: the only production Belgium-made over and unders in the world. Our special historic guns -- 1885s, 95s, as well as other limited series rifles -- continue to be made at our factory in Japan. These factories are unaffected by the New Haven closure and we continue forward with our production and future plans.


    Q. How does this announcement affect the service and repair of the Winchesters I own or Winchesters I may buy this year?
    A. Service is not affected at all by the plant closure. It continues from our network of Winchester Authorized Repair Centers (ARCs) and/or from our service facility in Arnold, Missouri. We have a continuing commitment to service that is an unchanged part of the Winchester legacy.


    Q. Was an official press release sent out by U.S. Repeating Arms concerning the closure?
    A. Yes there was. It was released January 17, 2006. The text is included below:


    For Immediate Release -- January 17, 2006

    U.S. Repeating Arms Company To Close New Haven, CT Facility -- U.S. Repeating Arms Company, maker of Winchester brand rifles and shotguns will close its New Haven, Connecticut manufacturing facility. Many efforts were made to improve profitability at the manufacturing facility in New Haven, and the decision was made after exhausting all available options.

    Effective March 31, 2006 the New Haven manufacturing facility will stop manufacturing the Winchester Model 70, Model 94 and Model 1300.

    Winchester Firearms will continue to sell and grow its current line of Select Over & Under shotguns, the new Super X3 autoloading shotgun, the new Super X autoloading rifle and Limited Edition rifles. The company also plans to introduce new models in the future. There will be no change in Customer Service.

    This action is a realignment of resources to make Winchester Firearms a stronger, more viable organization. Winchester Firearms plans to continue the great Winchester legacy and is very excited about the future.
    April 7, 2006"

    Best.
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